OAKLAND — Everything started so well. The Warriors ripped off an 18-2 run early in the first quarter and was in command before the Oracle seats were filled.

This was going to be a night where the Warriors got rest. They were going to destroy lowly Minnesota and turn the game into one of those fourth-quarter laughers. But then something happened.

The Warriors got bored.

They disengaged mentally, their motivation robbed by the ease of building a 15-point first quarter lead. The let off the gas, only to press on it again to take a 17-point midway through the third. They again resorted to playing with their food.

Only problem: when they tried to 0 the switch, turn it back on again, they didn”t have the spark. On top of that, Minnesota was grooving unlike a 25-win team, but like one of the NBA”s promising young collectives.

The result was another home loss, 124-117 in overtime, the second in three games. And with that, brow-raising concern sweeping through Dub Nation. Are they tired? Is the pursuit of 73 too much of a burden? Has the rest of the league figured them out?

“Honestly,” Green said, pausing to choose his words, “I think we”re at a point where it”s like ”Alright … we”re ready for the regular season to end.” You”re talking 82 games. You get bored with that after a while. And that”s no excuse. But I give it to y”all real and that”s as real as I can be.”

This blowback from rampant success has been brewing for sometime. It was even predictable.

The Warriors have breezed through the league at a record pace. When healthy, they have blitzed the NBA”s best teams. Starting with throttling the Cavaliers in Cleveland in January, breaking the hurt of Oklahoma City three times, and destroying the visiting San Antonio Spurs, the Warriors exerted their dominance in a fashion that left them without equal.

The Spurs are still in the conversation. But that”s it. And that reality leaves the Warriors warring against themselves more than the opponent. With so few big games on the schedule, it”s been a months-long test of self-motivation. They even exhausted their emotionally charged affairs, sweeping the Clippers and getting revenge on previous losses.

The playoffs can”t get here fast enough.

The pursuit of 73 wins, which would break the NBA record for wins in a season set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, clearly isn”t enough of a motivator. It might even work against them, as it seems to be shifting the Warriors” emphasis from reaching their standard to securing a win — not the same thing, as they learned during their 24-0 start to the season.

“The same thing happened 20 years ago,” coach Steve Kerr said, referencing his 1995-96 Chicago Bulls squad that lost two of its last four home games. “Even the game we broke the record we played very poorly. This doesn t surprise me.”

The boredom, the struggle to find the edge that makes them elite, is most evident in their defense. They reach much more. They contest softly, hoping for misses. They aren”t as crisp on rotations and trot back on defense.

And the Timberwolves got rolling and became a problem. Karl Anthony-Towns is a beast. Green”s eyes rolled when asked about the no-brainer Rookie of the Year — and Green is rarely impressed by opponents. On top of Anthony-Towns, wings Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins got rolling. And then forward Shabazz Muhammed, a natural scorer, torched the Warriors for 35 off the bench.

They got what they wanted against the Warriors defense, even when the home tied tried to shift gears. The last 18 minutes, Minnesota outscored the Warriors by 19 and shot 65 percent.

The boredom is evidence on offense, too. The Warriors took 35 3-pointers. They were going for daggers, knockout blows, instead of executing one of the league”s worst defenses. They responded to the T”Wolves” pressure with nonchalant passing and hero basketball.

They never got a rhythm. Especially Curry, who needed 25 shots to get 21 points, missing 10 of his 14 3-pointers.

These Warriors weren”t sharp. They looked sluggish, uninspired for stretches. Kerr all but said his players tried to entertain themselves.

“We came out and played a phenomenal first six minutes; locked in on both ends,” Kerr said. “Then we decided to turn it into a show and we started turning the ball over like crazy. … . We are trying to make the great play. We are trying to hit the home run instead of a bunch of singles. When we start doing that, it takes away from the rhythm of the game and usually that leads to turnovers.”

But after the game, the Warriors weren”t panicking. They gave each other head nods and daps postgame, gestures that remind one another panic isn”t necessary but it is time to take it up a notch.

The record should no longer the goal, but playing to their standard. The latter ensures the former. Not the other way around.

Winning 73 is still possible. The Warriors just have to win out. But history is now on the back burner as the Warriors need to focus on regaining their dominant form.

The good news is the Spurs are coming to town, a team the Warriors will be up for. Even better news: the regular season is almost over, and so is the challenge of staying motivated.

“As much as we can, as best as we can,” Curry said, “focus on the 48-minute execution and focus as opposed to winning games because how we play is more important for the playoffs. We need to focus on that.